From a49c3274b0d03cbded74035fd669ae69db1c727e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:09:56 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 01/12] fix: fallback to `interpret` only when configuration
 can't be load

---
 .../webpack-cli/src/plugins/cli-plugin.ts     |   4 +-
 packages/webpack-cli/src/types.ts             |   7 +-
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts       | 149 +++++++++++-------
 3 files changed, 91 insertions(+), 69 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/plugins/cli-plugin.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/plugins/cli-plugin.ts
index 33f06e8aaf4..0f4796a3ea1 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/plugins/cli-plugin.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/plugins/cli-plugin.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { type Compiler } from "webpack";
 import { type CLIPluginOptions } from "../types.js";
 
-export class CLIPlugin {
+export default class CLIPlugin {
   logger!: ReturnType<Compiler["getInfrastructureLogger"]>;
 
   options: CLIPluginOptions;
@@ -149,5 +149,3 @@ export class CLIPlugin {
     this.setupHelpfulOutput(compiler);
   }
 }
-
-module.exports = CLIPlugin;
diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/types.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/types.ts
index 67acb7de486..96048a629f4 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/types.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import { type stringifyChunked } from "@discoveryjs/json-ext";
 import { type Command, type CommandOptions, type Option, type ParseOptions } from "commander";
 import { type prepare } from "rechoir";
 import {
@@ -32,6 +31,7 @@ declare interface WebpackCallback {
 }
 
 // TODO remove me in the next major release, we don't need extra interface
+// TODO also revisit all methods - remove unused or make private
 interface IWebpackCLI {
   colors: WebpackCLIColors;
   logger: WebpackCLILogger;
@@ -287,10 +287,6 @@ interface Rechoir {
   prepare: typeof prepare;
 }
 
-interface JsonExt {
-  stringifyChunked: typeof stringifyChunked;
-}
-
 interface RechoirError extends Error {
   failures: RechoirError[];
   error: Error;
@@ -318,7 +314,6 @@ export {
   type IWebpackCLI,
   type ImportLoaderError,
   type Instantiable,
-  type JsonExt,
   type LoadableWebpackConfiguration,
   type ModuleName,
   type PackageInstallOptions,
diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index ae26dff3317..35fd97fe08e 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -10,14 +10,11 @@ import {
   type WebpackError,
   default as webpack,
 } from "webpack";
-import type webpackMerge from "webpack-merge";
 
-import { type CLIPlugin as CLIPluginClass } from "./plugins/cli-plugin.js";
 import {
   type Argument,
   type Argv,
   type BasicPrimitive,
-  type CLIPluginOptions,
   type CallableWebpackConfiguration,
   type CommandAction,
   type DynamicImport,
@@ -26,7 +23,6 @@ import {
   type IWebpackCLI,
   type ImportLoaderError,
   type Instantiable,
-  type JsonExt,
   type LoadableWebpackConfiguration,
   type ModuleName,
   type PackageInstallOptions,
@@ -83,6 +79,23 @@ interface Information {
   npmPackages?: string | string[];
 }
 
+class ConfigurationLoadingError extends Error {
+  name = "ConfigurationLoadingError";
+
+  constructor(errors: [unknown, unknown]) {
+    const message1 = errors[0] instanceof Error ? errors[0].message : String(errors[0]);
+    const message2 = util.stripVTControlCharacters(
+      errors[1] instanceof Error ? errors[1].message : String(errors[1]),
+    );
+    const message =
+      `▶ ESM (\`import\`) failed:\n  ${message1.split("\n").join("\n  ")}\n\n▶ CJS (\`require\`) failed:\n  ${message2.split("\n").join("\n  ")}`.trim();
+
+    super(message);
+
+    this.stack = "";
+  }
+}
+
 class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
   colors: WebpackCLIColors;
 
@@ -348,7 +361,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     }
 
     if (needInstall) {
-      const { sync } = require("cross-spawn");
+      const { sync } = await import("cross-spawn");
 
       try {
         sync(packageManager, commandArguments, { stdio: "inherit" });
@@ -364,6 +377,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     process.exit(2);
   }
 
+  // TODO remove me in the next major release
   async tryRequireThenImport<T>(
     module: ModuleName,
     handleError = true,
@@ -539,7 +553,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
 
     defaultInformation.npmPackages = `{${defaultPackages.map((item) => `*${item}*`).join(",")}}`;
 
-    const envinfo = await this.tryRequireThenImport<typeof import("envinfo")>("envinfo", false);
+    const envinfo = await import("envinfo");
 
     let info = await envinfo.run(defaultInformation, envinfoConfig);
 
@@ -1094,8 +1108,8 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     return options;
   }
 
-  async loadWebpack(handleError = true) {
-    return this.tryRequireThenImport<typeof webpack>(WEBPACK_PACKAGE, handleError);
+  async loadWebpack(): Promise<typeof webpack> {
+    return require(WEBPACK_PACKAGE);
   }
 
   async run(args: Parameters<WebpackCLICommand["parseOptions"]>[0], parseOptions: ParseOptions) {
@@ -1264,7 +1278,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
         let loadedCommand;
 
         try {
-          loadedCommand = await this.tryRequireThenImport<Instantiable<() => void>>(pkg, false);
+          loadedCommand = (await import(pkg)) as Instantiable<() => void>;
         } catch {
           // Ignore, command is not installed
 
@@ -1325,10 +1339,10 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
               process.exit(2);
             }
 
-            const levenshtein = require("fastest-levenshtein");
+            const { distance } = await import("fastest-levenshtein");
 
             for (const option of (command as WebpackCLICommand).options) {
-              if (!option.hidden && levenshtein.distance(name, option.long?.slice(2)) < 3) {
+              if (!option.hidden && distance(name, option.long?.slice(2) as string) < 3) {
                 this.logger.error(`Did you mean '--${option.name()}'?`);
               }
             }
@@ -1761,11 +1775,10 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
         } else {
           this.logger.error(`Unknown command or entry '${operand}'`);
 
-          const levenshtein = require("fastest-levenshtein");
+          const { distance } = await import("fastest-levenshtein");
 
           const found = knownCommands.find(
-            (commandOptions) =>
-              levenshtein.distance(operand, getCommandName(commandOptions.name)) < 3,
+            (commandOptions) => distance(operand, getCommandName(commandOptions.name)) < 3,
           );
 
           if (found) {
@@ -1789,33 +1802,41 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     await this.program.parseAsync(args, parseOptions);
   }
 
-  async loadConfig(options: Partial<WebpackDevServerOptions>) {
-    const disableInterpret =
-      typeof options.disableInterpret !== "undefined" && options.disableInterpret;
+  async #loadConfigurationFile<T>(module: ModuleName, disableInterpret = false): Promise<T> {
+    let pkg;
 
-    const interpret = require("interpret");
+    let loadingError;
+
+    try {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line no-eval
+      pkg = await eval(`import("${module}")`);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (this.isValidationError(err)) {
+        throw err;
+      }
+
+      loadingError = err;
+    }
+
+    // Fallback logic when we can't use `import(...)`
+    if (loadingError) {
+      const { jsVariants, extensions } = await import("interpret");
+      const ext = path.extname(module).toLowerCase();
+
+      let interpreted = Object.keys(jsVariants).find((variant) => variant === ext);
 
-    const loadConfigByPath = async (
-      configPath: string,
-      argv: Argv = {},
-    ): Promise<{ options: Configuration | Configuration[]; path: string }> => {
-      const ext = path.extname(configPath).toLowerCase();
-      let interpreted = Object.keys(interpret.jsVariants).find((variant) => variant === ext);
-      // Fallback `.cts` to `.ts`
-      // TODO implement good `.mts` support after https://github.com/gulpjs/rechoir/issues/43
-      // For ESM and `.mts` you need to use: 'NODE_OPTIONS="--loader ts-node/esm" webpack-cli --config ./webpack.config.mts'
       if (!interpreted && ext.endsWith(".cts")) {
-        interpreted = interpret.jsVariants[".ts"];
+        interpreted = jsVariants[".ts"] as string;
       }
 
       if (interpreted && !disableInterpret) {
-        const rechoir: Rechoir = require("rechoir");
+        const rechoir: Rechoir = (await import("rechoir")).default;
 
         try {
-          rechoir.prepare(interpret.extensions, configPath);
+          rechoir.prepare(extensions, module);
         } catch (error) {
           if ((error as RechoirError)?.failures) {
-            this.logger.error(`Unable load '${configPath}'`);
+            this.logger.error(`Unable load '${module}'`);
             this.logger.error((error as RechoirError).message);
             for (const failure of (error as RechoirError).failures) {
               this.logger.error(failure.error.message);
@@ -1823,41 +1844,51 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
             this.logger.error("Please install one of them");
             process.exit(2);
           }
-
           this.logger.error(error);
           process.exit(2);
         }
       }
 
-      let options: LoadableWebpackConfiguration | LoadableWebpackConfiguration[];
+      try {
+        pkg = require(module);
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (this.isValidationError(err)) {
+          throw err;
+        }
 
-      type LoadConfigOption = PotentialPromise<Configuration>;
+        throw new ConfigurationLoadingError([loadingError, err]);
+      }
+    }
 
-      let moduleType: "unknown" | "commonjs" | "esm" = "unknown";
+    if (pkg && typeof pkg === "object" && "default" in pkg) {
+      pkg = pkg.default || {};
+    }
 
-      switch (ext) {
-        case ".cjs":
-        case ".cts":
-          moduleType = "commonjs";
-          break;
-        case ".mjs":
-        case ".mts":
-          moduleType = "esm";
-          break;
-      }
+    return pkg || {};
+  }
+
+  async loadConfig(options: Partial<WebpackDevServerOptions>) {
+    const disableInterpret =
+      typeof options.disableInterpret !== "undefined" && options.disableInterpret;
+
+    const loadConfigByPath = async (
+      configPath: string,
+      argv: Argv = {},
+    ): Promise<{ options: Configuration | Configuration[]; path: string }> => {
+      let options: LoadableWebpackConfiguration | LoadableWebpackConfiguration[];
+
+      type LoadConfigOption = PotentialPromise<Configuration>;
 
       try {
-        options = await this.tryRequireThenImport<LoadConfigOption | LoadConfigOption[]>(
+        options = await this.#loadConfigurationFile<LoadConfigOption | LoadConfigOption[]>(
           configPath,
-          false,
-          moduleType,
+          disableInterpret,
         );
       } catch (error) {
-        this.logger.error(`Failed to load '${configPath}' config`);
-
-        if (this.isValidationError(error)) {
-          this.logger.error(error.message);
+        if (error instanceof ConfigurationLoadingError) {
+          this.logger.error(`Failed to load '${configPath}' config\n${error.message}`);
         } else {
+          this.logger.error(`Failed to load '${configPath}' config`);
           this.logger.error(error);
         }
 
@@ -1950,6 +1981,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
         }
       }
     } else {
+      const interpret = await import("interpret");
       // Prioritize popular extensions first to avoid unnecessary fs calls
       const extensions = new Set([
         ".js",
@@ -2035,7 +2067,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
         ),
       );
 
-      const merge = await this.tryRequireThenImport<typeof webpackMerge>("webpack-merge");
+      const { merge } = await import("webpack-merge");
       const loadedOptions = loadedConfigs.flatMap((config) => config.options);
 
       if (loadedOptions.length > 0) {
@@ -2108,7 +2140,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     }
 
     if (options.merge) {
-      const merge = await this.tryRequireThenImport<typeof webpackMerge>("webpack-merge");
+      const { merge } = await import("webpack-merge");
 
       // we can only merge when there are multiple configurations
       // either by passing multiple configs by flags or passing a
@@ -2161,10 +2193,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
       process.exit(2);
     }
 
-    const CLIPlugin =
-      await this.tryRequireThenImport<Instantiable<CLIPluginClass, [CLIPluginOptions]>>(
-        "./plugins/cli-plugin",
-      );
+    const CLIPlugin = (await import("./plugins/cli-plugin.js")).default;
 
     const internalBuildConfig = (item: Configuration) => {
       const originalWatchValue = item.watch;
@@ -2407,9 +2436,9 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     let createStringifyChunked: typeof stringifyChunked;
 
     if (options.json) {
-      const jsonExt = await this.tryRequireThenImport<JsonExt>("@discoveryjs/json-ext");
+      const { stringifyChunked } = await import("@discoveryjs/json-ext");
 
-      createStringifyChunked = jsonExt.stringifyChunked;
+      createStringifyChunked = stringifyChunked;
     }
 
     const callback: WebpackCallback = (error, stats): void => {

From 37c11ebb93a6a6e018affa56805f762d3d59874d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:43:56 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 02/12] refactor: fixes

---
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts | 4 ++++
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index 35fd97fe08e..0815d55d265 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -1815,6 +1815,10 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
         throw err;
       }
 
+      if (process.env?.WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG) {
+        throw err;
+      }
+
       loadingError = err;
     }
 

From d696e76f853a0a3138a3c7e29ab26a904c93abd8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:46:37 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 03/12] refactor: fixes

---
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts | 9 +++++++--
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index 0815d55d265..b226bb2887d 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ const WEBPACK_DEV_SERVER_PACKAGE = WEBPACK_DEV_SERVER_PACKAGE_IS_CUSTOM
   : "webpack-dev-server";
 
 const EXIT_SIGNALS = ["SIGINT", "SIGTERM"];
+const DEFAULT_CONFIGURATION_FILES = [
+  "webpack.config",
+  ".webpack/webpack.config",
+  ".webpack/webpackfile",
+];
 
 interface Information {
   Binaries?: string[];
@@ -1278,7 +1283,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
         let loadedCommand;
 
         try {
-          loadedCommand = (await import(pkg)) as Instantiable<() => void>;
+          loadedCommand = await this.tryRequireThenImport<Instantiable<() => void>>(pkg, false);
         } catch {
           // Ignore, command is not installed
 
@@ -1998,7 +2003,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
       ]);
       // Order defines the priority, in decreasing order
       const defaultConfigFiles = new Set(
-        ["webpack.config", ".webpack/webpack.config", ".webpack/webpackfile"].flatMap((filename) =>
+        DEFAULT_CONFIGURATION_FILES.flatMap((filename) =>
           [...extensions].map((ext) => path.resolve(filename + ext)),
         ),
       );

From 806ac94e75e592d3c138d73beb98cb546da8b6c4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:59:56 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 04/12] refactor: fixes

---
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts | 10 +++++-----
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index b226bb2887d..a5c10208b6c 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -1807,14 +1807,14 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     await this.program.parseAsync(args, parseOptions);
   }
 
-  async #loadConfigurationFile<T>(module: ModuleName, disableInterpret = false): Promise<T> {
+  async #loadConfigurationFile<T>(configPath: string, disableInterpret = false): Promise<T> {
     let pkg;
 
     let loadingError;
 
     try {
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-eval
-      pkg = await eval(`import("${module}")`);
+      pkg = await eval(`import("${configPath}")`);
     } catch (err) {
       if (this.isValidationError(err)) {
         throw err;
@@ -1842,10 +1842,10 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
         const rechoir: Rechoir = (await import("rechoir")).default;
 
         try {
-          rechoir.prepare(extensions, module);
+          rechoir.prepare(extensions, configPath);
         } catch (error) {
           if ((error as RechoirError)?.failures) {
-            this.logger.error(`Unable load '${module}'`);
+            this.logger.error(`Unable load '${configPath}'`);
             this.logger.error((error as RechoirError).message);
             for (const failure of (error as RechoirError).failures) {
               this.logger.error(failure.error.message);
@@ -1859,7 +1859,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
       }
 
       try {
-        pkg = require(module);
+        pkg = require(configPath);
       } catch (err) {
         if (this.isValidationError(err)) {
           throw err;

From a19c96772b4d035073833daad364e284db90b2b1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:06:33 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 05/12] refactor: fixes

---
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index a5c10208b6c..7bf143c0874 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -1830,7 +1830,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     // Fallback logic when we can't use `import(...)`
     if (loadingError) {
       const { jsVariants, extensions } = await import("interpret");
-      const ext = path.extname(module).toLowerCase();
+      const ext = path.extname(configPath).toLowerCase();
 
       let interpreted = Object.keys(jsVariants).find((variant) => variant === ext);
 

From e5a87b88e7a4fdf213b7af1da04b3498c7138592 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:01:42 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 06/12] refactor: fix logic

---
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index 7bf143c0874..4667716dcb2 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -1306,7 +1306,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     };
 
     // Register own exit
-    this.program.exitOverride(async (error) => {
+    this.program.exitOverride((error) => {
       if (error.exitCode === 0) {
         process.exit(0);
       }
@@ -1344,7 +1344,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
               process.exit(2);
             }
 
-            const { distance } = await import("fastest-levenshtein");
+            const { distance } = require("fastest-levenshtein");
 
             for (const option of (command as WebpackCLICommand).options) {
               if (!option.hidden && distance(name, option.long?.slice(2) as string) < 3) {

From c4390a7021197480d6d49c17a0e28bbf64b06088 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:53:27 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 07/12] test: refactor

---
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts       | 34 +++++++++----------
 .../typescript.test.mjs                       |  5 ---
 .../typescript.test.mjs                       |  2 --
 .../typescript.test.mjs                       |  2 --
 .../typescript.test.mjs                       |  2 --
 .../config-error.test.js.snap.webpack5        | 10 ++++++
 .../error-commonjs/config-error.test.js       |  4 +--
 test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js    | 14 +++-----
 .../with-config-path.test.js.snap.webpack5    |  9 +++--
 9 files changed, 37 insertions(+), 45 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 test/build/config/error-commonjs/__snapshots__/config-error.test.js.snap.webpack5

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index 4667716dcb2..342c7870f2b 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ interface Information {
   npmPackages?: string | string[];
 }
 
+type LoadConfigOption = PotentialPromise<Configuration>;
+
 class ConfigurationLoadingError extends Error {
   name = "ConfigurationLoadingError";
 
@@ -1807,20 +1809,20 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     await this.program.parseAsync(args, parseOptions);
   }
 
-  async #loadConfigurationFile<T>(configPath: string, disableInterpret = false): Promise<T> {
-    let pkg;
+  async #loadConfigurationFile(
+    configPath: string,
+    disableInterpret = false,
+  ): Promise<LoadConfigOption | LoadConfigOption[] | undefined> {
+    let pkg: LoadConfigOption | LoadConfigOption[] | undefined;
 
     let loadingError;
 
     try {
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-eval
-      pkg = await eval(`import("${configPath}")`);
+      pkg = (await eval(`import("${configPath}")`)).default;
+      return pkg;
     } catch (err) {
-      if (this.isValidationError(err)) {
-        throw err;
-      }
-
-      if (process.env?.WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG) {
+      if (this.isValidationError(err) || process.env?.WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG) {
         throw err;
       }
 
@@ -1867,10 +1869,11 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
 
         throw new ConfigurationLoadingError([loadingError, err]);
       }
-    }
 
-    if (pkg && typeof pkg === "object" && "default" in pkg) {
-      pkg = pkg.default || {};
+      // To handle `babel`/`module.exports.default = {};`
+      if (pkg && typeof pkg === "object" && "default" in pkg) {
+        pkg = pkg.default || {};
+      }
     }
 
     return pkg || {};
@@ -1884,15 +1887,10 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
       configPath: string,
       argv: Argv = {},
     ): Promise<{ options: Configuration | Configuration[]; path: string }> => {
-      let options: LoadableWebpackConfiguration | LoadableWebpackConfiguration[];
-
-      type LoadConfigOption = PotentialPromise<Configuration>;
+      let options: LoadableWebpackConfiguration | LoadableWebpackConfiguration[] | undefined;
 
       try {
-        options = await this.#loadConfigurationFile<LoadConfigOption | LoadConfigOption[]>(
-          configPath,
-          disableInterpret,
-        );
+        options = await this.#loadConfigurationFile(configPath, disableInterpret);
       } catch (error) {
         if (error instanceof ConfigurationLoadingError) {
           this.logger.error(`Failed to load '${configPath}' config\n${error.message}`);
diff --git a/test/build/config-format/typescript-cjs-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs b/test/build/config-format/typescript-cjs-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs
index f521bc851f3..6cf4dd1c201 100644
--- a/test/build/config-format/typescript-cjs-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs
+++ b/test/build/config-format/typescript-cjs-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs
@@ -13,11 +13,6 @@ describe("webpack cli", () => {
       __dirname,
       ["-c", "./webpack.config.ts", "--disable-interpret"],
       {
-        env: {
-          NODE_NO_WARNINGS: 1,
-          // Due nyc logic
-          WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG: true,
-        },
         // Fallback to `ts-node/esm` for old Node.js versions
         nodeOptions: major >= 24 ? [] : ["--require=ts-node/register"],
       },
diff --git a/test/build/config-format/typescript-mjs-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs b/test/build/config-format/typescript-mjs-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs
index 62d0fdc5a58..33638220420 100644
--- a/test/build/config-format/typescript-mjs-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs
+++ b/test/build/config-format/typescript-mjs-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ describe("webpack cli", () => {
       {
         env: {
           NODE_NO_WARNINGS: 1,
-          // Due nyc logic
-          WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG: true,
         },
         // Fallback to `ts-node/esm` for old Node.js versions
         nodeOptions: major >= 24 ? [] : ["--experimental-loader=ts-node/esm"],
diff --git a/test/build/config-format/typescript-ts-node-loader/typescript.test.mjs b/test/build/config-format/typescript-ts-node-loader/typescript.test.mjs
index 89462548c7e..8653ad72ae8 100644
--- a/test/build/config-format/typescript-ts-node-loader/typescript.test.mjs
+++ b/test/build/config-format/typescript-ts-node-loader/typescript.test.mjs
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@ describe("webpack cli", () => {
     const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, ["-c", "./webpack.config.ts"], {
       env: {
         NODE_NO_WARNINGS: 1,
-        // Due nyc logic
-        WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG: true,
       },
       nodeOptions:
         major >= 22 && minor >= 6
diff --git a/test/build/config-format/typescript-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs b/test/build/config-format/typescript-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs
index 62d0fdc5a58..33638220420 100644
--- a/test/build/config-format/typescript-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs
+++ b/test/build/config-format/typescript-using-nodejs/typescript.test.mjs
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ describe("webpack cli", () => {
       {
         env: {
           NODE_NO_WARNINGS: 1,
-          // Due nyc logic
-          WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG: true,
         },
         // Fallback to `ts-node/esm` for old Node.js versions
         nodeOptions: major >= 24 ? [] : ["--experimental-loader=ts-node/esm"],
diff --git a/test/build/config/error-commonjs/__snapshots__/config-error.test.js.snap.webpack5 b/test/build/config/error-commonjs/__snapshots__/config-error.test.js.snap.webpack5
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cfa64d5bab4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/config/error-commonjs/__snapshots__/config-error.test.js.snap.webpack5
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// Jest Snapshot v1, https://jestjs.io/docs/snapshot-testing
+
+exports[`config with errors should throw syntax error and exit with non-zero exit code 1`] = `
+"[webpack-cli] Failed to load '<cwd>/test/build/config/error-commonjs/syntax-error.js' config
+▶ ESM (\`import\`) failed:
+  Unexpected token ';'
+
+▶ CJS (\`require\`) failed:
+  Unexpected token ';'"
+`;
diff --git a/test/build/config/error-commonjs/config-error.test.js b/test/build/config/error-commonjs/config-error.test.js
index a4d4df2f420..f207df15881 100644
--- a/test/build/config/error-commonjs/config-error.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config/error-commonjs/config-error.test.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 "use strict";
 
 const { resolve } = require("node:path");
-const { run } = require("../../../utils/test-utils");
+const { normalizeStderr, run } = require("../../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("config with errors", () => {
   it("should throw error with invalid configuration", async () => {
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ describe("config with errors", () => {
     ]);
 
     expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
-    expect(stderr).toContain("SyntaxError: Unexpected token");
+    expect(normalizeStderr(stderr)).toMatchSnapshot();
     expect(stdout).toBeFalsy();
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js b/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js
index ab4336a35fc..5f854bccb3d 100644
--- a/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js
@@ -2,15 +2,11 @@ const { run } = require("../../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("webpack cli", () => {
   it("should support mjs config format", async () => {
-    const { exitCode, stderr } = await run(__dirname, ["-c", "webpack.config.mjs"], {
-      env: { WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG: true },
-    });
+    const { exitCode, stderr } = await run(__dirname, ["-c", "webpack.config.mjs"]);
 
-    if (/Error: Not supported/.test(stderr)) {
-      expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
-    } else {
-      expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
-      expect(stderr).toMatch(/Unable to find default export./);
-    }
+    console.log(stderr);
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
+    expect(stderr).toMatch(/Unable to find default export./);
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/configtest/with-config-path/__snapshots__/with-config-path.test.js.snap.webpack5 b/test/configtest/with-config-path/__snapshots__/with-config-path.test.js.snap.webpack5
index dec64f56516..8f64293cc3c 100644
--- a/test/configtest/with-config-path/__snapshots__/with-config-path.test.js.snap.webpack5
+++ b/test/configtest/with-config-path/__snapshots__/with-config-path.test.js.snap.webpack5
@@ -6,12 +6,11 @@ exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should throw er
 
 exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should throw syntax error: stderr 1`] = `
 "[webpack-cli] Failed to load '<cwd>/test/configtest/with-config-path/syntax-error.config.js' config
-[webpack-cli] <cwd>/test/configtest/with-config-path/syntax-error.config.js:5
-    target: 'node';
-                  ^
+▶ ESM (\`import\`) failed:
+  Unexpected token ';'
 
-SyntaxError: <error-message>
-    at stack"
+▶ CJS (\`require\`) failed:
+  Unexpected token ';'"
 `;
 
 exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should throw syntax error: stdout 1`] = `""`;

From 5741a97607d302eecbbc6b1b7eb0c2c82ae27dcd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:12:51 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 08/12] test: fix

---
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts                |  1 -
 .../config-array-error.test.js.snap.webpack5           | 10 ++++++++++
 .../config/error-array/config-array-error.test.js      |  5 +++--
 3 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 test/build/config/error-array/__snapshots__/config-array-error.test.js.snap.webpack5

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index 342c7870f2b..5e57093713f 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -1820,7 +1820,6 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
     try {
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-eval
       pkg = (await eval(`import("${configPath}")`)).default;
-      return pkg;
     } catch (err) {
       if (this.isValidationError(err) || process.env?.WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG) {
         throw err;
diff --git a/test/build/config/error-array/__snapshots__/config-array-error.test.js.snap.webpack5 b/test/build/config/error-array/__snapshots__/config-array-error.test.js.snap.webpack5
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..837aa696909
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/config/error-array/__snapshots__/config-array-error.test.js.snap.webpack5
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// Jest Snapshot v1, https://jestjs.io/docs/snapshot-testing
+
+exports[`config with invalid array syntax should throw syntax error and exit with non-zero exit code when even 1 object has syntax error 1`] = `
+"[webpack-cli] Failed to load '<cwd>/test/build/config/error-array/webpack.config.js' config
+▶ ESM (\`import\`) failed:
+  Unexpected token ';'
+
+▶ CJS (\`require\`) failed:
+  Unexpected token ';'"
+`;
diff --git a/test/build/config/error-array/config-array-error.test.js b/test/build/config/error-array/config-array-error.test.js
index c609231aeac..286b76ee0db 100644
--- a/test/build/config/error-array/config-array-error.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config/error-array/config-array-error.test.js
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 "use strict";
 
-const { run } = require("../../../utils/test-utils");
+const { normalizeStderr, run } = require("../../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("config with invalid array syntax", () => {
   it("should throw syntax error and exit with non-zero exit code when even 1 object has syntax error", async () => {
     const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, ["-c", "./webpack.config.js"]);
+
     expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
-    expect(stderr).toContain("SyntaxError: Unexpected token");
+    expect(normalizeStderr(stderr)).toMatchSnapshot();
     expect(stdout).toBeFalsy();
   });
 });

From 6d45f6d80b5ea5af823f11a5c50e2400af0a4b46 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:57:46 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 09/12] test: fix

---
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts    | 19 ++++++++++---------
 test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js |  9 ++++-----
 2 files changed, 14 insertions(+), 14 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index 5e57093713f..dbf330cae69 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -1868,11 +1868,17 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
 
         throw new ConfigurationLoadingError([loadingError, err]);
       }
+    }
 
-      // To handle `babel`/`module.exports.default = {};`
-      if (pkg && typeof pkg === "object" && "default" in pkg) {
-        pkg = pkg.default || {};
-      }
+    // To handle `babel`/`module.exports.default = {};`
+    if (pkg && typeof pkg === "object" && "default" in pkg) {
+      pkg = pkg.default || {};
+    }
+
+    if (!pkg) {
+      this.logger.warn(
+        `Default export is missing or nullish at (from ${configPath}). Webpack will run with an empty configuration. Please double-check that this is what you want. If you want to run webpack with an empty config, \`export {}\`/\`module.exports = {};\` to remove this warning.`,
+      );
     }
 
     return pkg || {};
@@ -1901,11 +1907,6 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
         process.exit(2);
       }
 
-      if (!options) {
-        this.logger.error(`Failed to load '${configPath}' config. Unable to find default export.`);
-        process.exit(2);
-      }
-
       if (Array.isArray(options)) {
         // reassign the value to assert type
         const optionsArray: LoadableWebpackConfiguration[] = options;
diff --git a/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js b/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js
index 5f854bccb3d..a2032aacc78 100644
--- a/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js
@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@ const { run } = require("../../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("webpack cli", () => {
   it("should support mjs config format", async () => {
-    const { exitCode, stderr } = await run(__dirname, ["-c", "webpack.config.mjs"]);
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, ["-c", "webpack.config.mjs"]);
 
-    console.log(stderr);
-
-    expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
-    expect(stderr).toMatch(/Unable to find default export./);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
+    expect(stderr).toMatch(/Default export is missing or nullish at/);
+    expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
   });
 });

From 146cfa8692b6ed981a3b0d73a4d1c271e5b6f71b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:17:52 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 10/12] test: refactor

---
 .../custom-name/custom-name.test.js           | 22 ++++--------
 .../mjs-config/default-mjs-config.test.js     | 27 ++++++---------
 .../config/error-mjs/config-error.test.js     | 34 +++++++++----------
 test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js    |  1 +
 .../undefined-default.test.js                 |  2 +-
 test/build/config/undefined/undefined.test.js |  2 +-
 6 files changed, 37 insertions(+), 51 deletions(-)

diff --git a/test/build/config-lookup/custom-name/custom-name.test.js b/test/build/config-lookup/custom-name/custom-name.test.js
index 7f83bed5f1d..617d16fc9ae 100644
--- a/test/build/config-lookup/custom-name/custom-name.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config-lookup/custom-name/custom-name.test.js
@@ -16,21 +16,13 @@ describe("custom config file", () => {
   });
 
   it("should work with esm format", async () => {
-    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(
-      __dirname,
-      ["--config", resolve(__dirname, "config.webpack.mjs")],
-      {
-        env: { WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG: true },
-      },
-    );
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, [
+      "--config",
+      resolve(__dirname, "config.webpack.mjs"),
+    ]);
 
-    if (/Error: Not supported/.test(stderr)) {
-      expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
-      expect(stdout).toBeFalsy();
-    } else {
-      expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
-      expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
-      expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
-    }
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/build/config/defaults/mjs-config/default-mjs-config.test.js b/test/build/config/defaults/mjs-config/default-mjs-config.test.js
index b1842c87628..7bd86af72dd 100644
--- a/test/build/config/defaults/mjs-config/default-mjs-config.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config/defaults/mjs-config/default-mjs-config.test.js
@@ -4,23 +4,16 @@ const { run } = require("../../../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("default config with mjs extension", () => {
   it("should build and not throw error with mjs config by default", async () => {
-    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, [], {
-      env: { WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG: true },
-    });
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, []);
 
-    if (/Error: Not supported/.test(stderr)) {
-      expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
-      expect(stdout).toBeFalsy();
-    } else {
-      expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
-      expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
-      // default entry should be used
-      expect(stdout).toContain("./src/index.js");
-      // should pick up the output path from config
-      expect(stdout).toContain("test-output");
-      expect(stdout).toContain("compiled successfully");
-      // check that the output file exists
-      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(__dirname, "/dist/test-output.js"))).toBeTruthy();
-    }
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    // default entry should be used
+    expect(stdout).toContain("./src/index.js");
+    // should pick up the output path from config
+    expect(stdout).toContain("test-output");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("compiled successfully");
+    // check that the output file exists
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(__dirname, "/dist/test-output.js"))).toBeTruthy();
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/build/config/error-mjs/config-error.test.js b/test/build/config/error-mjs/config-error.test.js
index c2ae7507281..3f98b4047bf 100644
--- a/test/build/config/error-mjs/config-error.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config/error-mjs/config-error.test.js
@@ -5,25 +5,29 @@ const { run } = require("../../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("config error", () => {
   it("should throw error with invalid configuration", async () => {
-    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(
-      __dirname,
-      ["-c", resolve(__dirname, "webpack.config.mjs")],
-      {
-        env: { WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG: true },
-      },
-    );
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, [
+      "-c",
+      resolve(__dirname, "webpack.config.mjs"),
+    ]);
 
     expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Invalid configuration object");
+    expect(stderr).toContain('"development" | "production" | "none"');
+    expect(stdout).toBeFalsy();
+  });
 
-    if (!/Error: Not supported/.test(stderr)) {
-      expect(stderr).toContain("Invalid configuration object");
-      expect(stderr).toContain('"development" | "production" | "none"');
-    }
+  it("should throw syntax error and exit with non-zero exit code", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, [
+      "-c",
+      resolve(__dirname, "syntax-error.mjs"),
+    ]);
 
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Unexpected token");
     expect(stdout).toBeFalsy();
   });
 
-  it("should throw syntax error and exit with non-zero exit code", async () => {
+  it("should throw syntax error and exit with non-zero exit code (force ESM loading)", async () => {
     const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(
       __dirname,
       ["-c", resolve(__dirname, "syntax-error.mjs")],
@@ -33,11 +37,7 @@ describe("config error", () => {
     );
 
     expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
-
-    if (!/Error: Not supported/.test(stderr)) {
-      expect(stderr).toContain("SyntaxError: Unexpected token");
-    }
-
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Unexpected token");
     expect(stdout).toBeFalsy();
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js b/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js
index a2032aacc78..d9e5578d5e0 100644
--- a/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config/named-export/mjs.test.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ describe("webpack cli", () => {
   it("should support mjs config format", async () => {
     const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, ["-c", "webpack.config.mjs"]);
 
+    // Exit `1` because entry was not found
     expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
     expect(stderr).toMatch(/Default export is missing or nullish at/);
     expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
diff --git a/test/build/config/undefined-default/undefined-default.test.js b/test/build/config/undefined-default/undefined-default.test.js
index 53330b739a5..c398abbcf08 100644
--- a/test/build/config/undefined-default/undefined-default.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config/undefined-default/undefined-default.test.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ describe("config flag with undefined default export config file", () => {
     ]);
 
     expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
-    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stderr).toMatch(/Default export is missing or nullish at/);
     expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/build/config/undefined/undefined.test.js b/test/build/config/undefined/undefined.test.js
index aa9f43244cf..98274a96473 100644
--- a/test/build/config/undefined/undefined.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config/undefined/undefined.test.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ describe("config flag with undefined export config file", () => {
     ]);
 
     expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
-    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stderr).toMatch(/Default export is missing or nullish at/);
     expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
   });
 });

From 64f907c2a73513e3288c1807cfe91ce36786f943 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:36:15 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 11/12] refactor: code

---
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index dbf330cae69..47f93295735 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -1872,7 +1872,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
 
     // To handle `babel`/`module.exports.default = {};`
     if (pkg && typeof pkg === "object" && "default" in pkg) {
-      pkg = pkg.default || {};
+      pkg = pkg.default as LoadConfigOption | LoadConfigOption[] | undefined;
     }
 
     if (!pkg) {

From 0eab614dd3751a995d4ce0d7bb86bfcd5b3c14cf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alexander-akait <sheo13666q@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:48:07 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 12/12] refactor: code

---
 packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index 47f93295735..ac7431f79ed 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -1819,7 +1819,7 @@ class WebpackCLI implements IWebpackCLI {
 
     try {
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-eval
-      pkg = (await eval(`import("${configPath}")`)).default;
+      pkg = (await eval(`import("${pathToFileURL(configPath)}")`)).default;
     } catch (err) {
       if (this.isValidationError(err) || process.env?.WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG) {
         throw err;